High-energy astronomy in the U.K.

A description is given of studies conducted with the Cambridge 5-km radio telescope, taking into account the investigation of the radio galaxy Cygnus A and observations regarding the young supernova remnant Cassiopeia A. A basic problem posed by objects such as Cygnus A concerns the source of their enormous energy. X-ray astronomy is another area in which British groups are playing a major role. The Ariel V satellite, launched on 15 October 1974, is the latest in a long series of UK-U.S. collaborative space-science projects. Recent theoretical work conducted by Hawking at Cambridge is also discussed, giving attention to possibilities concerning a unification of quantum theory and the general theory of relativity.